Door latch



Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH TUHOLSKE', OE ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI, ASSI'GNOE or TWENTY PEE CENT To CHRISTY M. EARRAR, TEN PER CENT To L. WYNNE MARTIN, SEVEN AND ONE- I-IALE PER CENT To E. D. CAMPBELL, AND TwELvE AND ONE-HALE PER CENT To JOHN J. OEALLON, ALL oE ST. LOUIS, MIsSoUEI.

DOOR LATCH.

Application filed September 24, 1925.

rlhis invention relates to door latches.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved door latch operative automatically and as an incident to movement of aldoor to adjusted position to engage a part or the door and adjustable to permit movement of the door to and from said position so that the door may be opened or closed, as desired.

Another object ot the invention is to `provide a latch designed and adapted specially for use in connection with sliding doors and consisting of a pivoted latch member movable to position to permit the door to be open, and constructed so that it will operate automatically to retain the door in closed position as anineideiit to movement of the door to such closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide 4a latch of the character and embodying the structure mentioned, in combination with a scaling device engageable with a part connected with the latch and which sealing device requires manipulation to permit movement of the latch to a position in which the door may be moved from the location in which it is retained by said latch.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a combined guide and latch for a sliding door possessing all of the advantages and useful characteristics herein made apparent.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a view showing the invention mounted for vcooperation with a door.

Fig. 2 is an end view.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the latch member detached from its support.

Fig. t is a perspective view of the latch part. The invention shown is mounted for use in connection with a sliding door 1 which as shown has a flange 2' connected to its lower end.

The device shown comprises a frame including a body portion 4; having upwardly extending spaced-flanges 5, whichirame is secured to its support by a bolt 6 passing through 'the body and into the support belou7 the plane lor the lower edge of the ange 2, and a bolt 7 passing through the flanges 5 seran No. 58,305.

and into the support. The latch 8 is pivoted upon the bolt 7 and has one end weighted So that the normalk tendency of said latch is to occupy approximately a vertical position with one tace thereof adjacent to the side edge of the door to retain `the door in a closed or other adjusted position. In this embodiment, the latch is' actuated to latching position by gravity and when moved to the position shown by dotted lines (Fig. 1) the door may be moved thereover and will hold the latch in such position until the door is returned, whereupon the latch yauton'iatically returns to latching position. Each of the {lang'es 5 is 4formed with a curved or other suitable slot 9 having an approximately vertical lower portion 10, while the intermediate portion of the latch is provid-ed with a slot 11,* a part or which is at all times in alinement with the slots `9.` I

' A bolt 12 has a head V13 on its inner end operating in a groove 14 in the inner vflange 5, said bolt passing through theslots 9 and 11 and having its outer extremity provided with a slot 15. A sealing tape or band 16 passes through the slot 15 and through a hole 1:7 in a bolt'18 passing through the body 4f. Vhen the bolt 12 is seated in the lower extremities 10 of the slots 9, the latch 8 is positively retained in latching position. However, the bolt-12 may be raised out of the vertical extremities 10 of the slots 9 to permit turning or the latch 8 upon the pivot to allow the door to be opened or closed. Q

vMy improved latch is designed specially for use in connection with sliding doors on railway cars, though it lis apparent that it may be used in connection with other sliding doors. In practice, the latch is usually mounted at 0r near the lower end of the door, thus facilitating the latching` ot' the door in closed position which prevents the car doors from running back and forth in switching or in transit. This prevents the frequent damaging of car doors since the latch operates automatically and as an incident to the closing of the door to retain ythe door in closed position. A number of parts now used on the car doors are eliminated and a large amount of the time and labor required for proper adjustment of the present locks and latches are avoided.

The invention may be varied in numerous particulars without departure from the nature and principle thereof. I do not restrict myself in unessential particulars, but what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s z- 1. A latch of the character described comprising a body, a pair of spaced parts rigid With said body, a bolt extending through and rigidly supporting one side of said body, a second bolt extending through said spaced parts and across the space between them and cooperating with said first bolt to support said body rigidly, a latch member pivoted on said second bolt between said parts for engaging a part of a door, and means in connection with said latch member for actuating the same to latching position as an incident to movement of the door to a predetermined position.

2. A latch of the character' described comprising abody, a pair of spaced parts rigid with said body, a bolt extending through and rigidly supporting one side of said body, a second bolt extending through said spaced parts and across the space between them and cooperating with said first bolt to support said body rigidly, a latch member pivoted on said second bolt between said parts for engaging a part of a door, means in connection with said latch member for actuating the same to latching position as an incident to movement of the door to a predetermined position, and releasable elements supported by said latch member and by said spaced parts preventing movement of the latch member to unlatched position.

3. A latch of the character described comprising a support, a pair of spaced parts rigid with said support, a pivot element extending across the space between said parts, a latch member pivoted on said element and having a slot near one end extending toward said pivo-t element, a pin extending through said slot and being movable therein toward and away from said pivot means, a shoulder` on said support against which said pin engages when said pin is in its position farthest away from said pivot element, and means limiting longitudinal movement of said pin and permitting movement of said pin in said slot toward and away from said pivot means.

4.' A latch of the character described comprising a latch member, means for pivotally supporting the latch member adjacent to a. door for engagement with the door in one position, means for `actuating the latch into engagement with the door automatically and as an incident to movement of the door to a predetermined position, means for holding the latch in latching position, and a releasable sealing device cooperating with said last named means.

5. A latch for a sliding door comprising a frame, a bolt holding said frame in a rigid position, a latch member pivoted on said bolt, automatic means for moving Said latch member into latching engagement with the door as an incident to movement of the door to a predetermined position, and an element extending through said frame and through said latch for holding said latch in latching position.

6. A latch for a sliding door comprising a support having an arcuate slot and an approximately vertical slot opening into one end of said arcuate slot, an element rigidly supporting one side of said support approximately concentric with said arcuate slot, a latch member pivoted ou said element and having al slot in communication with one of said slots in said support in any position of said latch member, a pin extending through said slot in said latch member and being movable therein toward said element to pass from either of said slots vin said support to the other during movement ofI said latch member to and from latching position, and a part in connection with said pin engaging` said support and preventing longitudinal movement of said pin and permitting movement of said pin as aforesaid.

7 A latch for a sliding door comprising a pivoted latch member, automatic means for moving the latch member into latching engagement with the door as an incident to movement of the door to a predetermined position, an element supported in part by said latch for holding said latch in latching position, and a sealing device cooperative with said element. f

8. A combined guide and latch for a sliding door comprising a member for guiding one edge of the door during movement of the door to and from closed posit-ion and having a slot therein, a shoulder at one end of said slot, a latch member operatively supported by said member for engaging and holding the door in one position and having a. slot in registration with said slot in said member, means for moving said latch'into latching engagement with the door as an incident to movement of the door to closed position, and a pin extending through said slots in said member and said latch and arranged to engage said shoulder when said latch is in latching position.

9. A combined guide and latch for a sliding door comprising a guide for guiding the door during movement to and from closed position, a latch movably supported in said guide and arranged to engage and hold the door in one position, means for actuating the latch into engagement with the door as an incident to movement of the door to said position, and means for holding said latch in the position in which it will retain the door in the position aforesaid.

10. A combined guide and latch for a sliding door comprising a member for guiding the door during sliding movement and holding the door close to the Structure on Which it is mounted, a pivoted latch in said member for holding the door in closed position, automatic means for moving the latch to latching position as an incident to movement of the door to closed position, and an element Supported by said latch and said membei1 and being movable to positions to permit oi' prevent unlatching of said latch member while said door is closed.

11. A combined guide and latch for a sliding door comprising a member for guiding the door during sliding movement and holding the door close to the structure on Which the door is mounted, a pivoted latch in said member for holding the door in closed position, automatic means for movingl the latch into latching` engagement with the door when the door is closed, and an element 20 for holding said latch in said position.

JOSEPH TUHOLSKE. 

